Groups challenge federal financial aid law
by Roxanna Latifi, reporter

    The U.S. government gives aid to most college students, but what happens when one of those students breaks the law?

   Should the government still give federal funding privileges to those who break a federal law?

   Under federal law, the answer is no.

   This federal law states that part of or the entire financial aid may be denied to students who are convicted for illegal drug possession.

   Penalties are greater for those who deal the drugs rather than those who use them.

   If convicted, students may attempt to shorten the consequences by completing rehabilitation programs and passing two drug tests.

   However, administrators at Yale, one of the most prestigious universities known, announced they would help students who have lost their financial aid due to drug offenses.

   Yale officials said any student who qualifies for federal financial assistance but loses it after conviction of selling or using drugs can receive aid if he enrolls in a rehabilitation program given by the university.

   I question the ethics of this new policy. The most prestigious and intellectual students are admitted to this institution, but this policy tells me it does not matter if they are drug addicts.

   In the 2000-2001 school year, 279,000 students applying for financial aid left the question: “Have you ever been convicted of possessing or selling illegal drugs?” blank on the application for Federal Student Aid.
   Within the same school year, between 9,114 and 15,389 students were denied financial aid due to these convictions.

   These statistics reveal the population of students who try to obtain taxpayers’ money after spending their own on drugs.

   I believe the U.S. government gives many privileges to its citizens compared to the other counties in this world. In addition, to deny the privilege of financial aid to those who have abused not only the government but also themselves is logical. Such students do not deserve the privilege to take taxpayers’ hard-earned money.

   The federal law is now being questioned by 85 student government groups, which leads to the possibility of the law’s being amended.

   What message do these student government organizations wish to put out when they are fighting for the rights of lawbreakers?

   It would be reasonable if this law was inhumane, but let us face it, denying government money to drug convictees is only denying them a privilege.

   Finding money for college can be a challenge, and if that was not enough, many students have to work hard to accomplish their goals. But with this policy, I get the message that my hard work doesn’t really matter.

   Someone who has broken a federal law, and was convicted, can still use taxpayers’ money to pay his way to school.

   I guess after having to buy all that expensive cocaine, a student does need the money for college after all.